“Are… are they really human? Couldn’t they be a monster?”“Has fear eaten away at your reason? Think logically — there’s no way they’re a monster!” Breathing heavily, they hurriedly moved forward. At the forefront, an elderly man’s expression was strikingly calm. “Notice the pattern in the lighting. Someone’s been here.”“H-But—!”“Focus! We must report what we’ve seen. This is the clue to developing the vaccine!” What exactly had they seen to speak with such certainty? Despite his calm expression, a thread of desire shone through. These people were researchers. Because they held the principles of a naturalist, they had only held minor positions but as a result, they had not mutated. They could not forget what they had seen at the company. “A monster with reason has been born.” The reason they had survived owed greatly to his help. He had been the one to inform them of the antcave and guide them inside. The middle-aged man, who never revealed his name, could only be identified by the scar across his face. “He must have been a soldier… probably a commander of a special forces unit.” Aside from these thoughts, a cluster of approaching light drew near. The researcher’s expression noticeably brightened. “W-We made it!” The shelter was open. Though it could only accommodate a few people, it likely had some supplies. As they approached the entrance… A cold sensation lifted their bodies off the ground.  “Huh?” Someone was blocking their way. Their momentum was abruptly stopped, and they were lifted into the air. Pain came from the «N.o.v.e.l.i.g.h.t» force, and darkness clouded their vision as they struggled to breathe. “Cough—!”“Calm down. No further approach is allowed.” In this dizzying moment, a young man appeared. A black-haired, glasses-wearing Asian man whose presence felt mentally suffocating. “First, let’s get you up.” He extended his hand. Carefully grasping it, their body was lifted instantly. Simultaneously, his gaze lingered, a strange mix of benevolence and scrutiny. Then the words came out of his mouth, shocking the ears: “You’re from Baizen Pharmaceuticals. Aryan.” For a moment, confusion severed the flow of thought. “Uh… how do you know my name?”“Aren’t you the famous naturalist?” Aryan Patel could barely keep his mind straight amidst the continuous stream of startling events. Before him stood an elderly Indian man. Aryan Patel. Title: [Laboratory Director]. Meeting him was unexpected. ‘Why is this man here?’ Yet he suppressed a mischievous curl of his lips. In this world, the naturalists’ backbone and the elderly man’s influence on vaccine development made him not an easy person to encounter. “P-Pleased to meet you.”“…Wow, they’re really human.”“Hello…” Other researchers followed behind. They had been hiding in Baizen Pharmaceuticals and were supposed to be rescued, so why were they now in this antcave? Questions swirled endlessly, only deepening rather than resolving. “This isn’t right! We must get to a safe place! We have clues to develop a vaccine!”“V-Vaccine?”“What’s that?” The elder’s certainty shook the room. A vaccine, and at this point in time? Developing one seemed impossible. Yet their expressions were sincere. “What a revelation! Despite being infected, some retained their intelligence! That’s how that person could access the defense facilities!”“You mean… from Baizen Pharmaceuticals?”“Yes!” ‘If it’s from Baizen…’ At that moment, a memory flashed. ‘I probably won’t be forgiven by the chairman… Hurry, head to Baizen.’‘Someday, a catastrophic event will occur. You’ll realize what I intended during that disaster.’ Instinctively, he sensed a connection to [Vergo Heinz]. A name he had tried to avoid thinking of: Vergo Heinz. The name brought a flood of thoughts. ‘Could it really be connected to Vergo?’ Impossible to tell. The researchers’ condition was far from normal: bloodshot eyes, deep dark circles. Considering the distance from Baizen Pharmaceuticals… ‘They’ve been walking along this path for days.’ Their bodies and minds were exhausted. The sight sent chills down his spine. A little reflection revealed that meeting them was sheer luck—for them and for him. Had the researchers moved in the opposite direction, or entered the antcave later? Civilians trapped in this maze of disaster had little chance of surviving. Vaccine development in this world might have been impossible. Even their small lights were crucial—without them, their minds would have worn down first. Their encounter was sheer coincidence layered with luck. “What shall we do?”“Best to decide after some rest.” The researchers devoured the rations and water hastily, hinting at the extreme fatigue they had endured. They needed rest—enough to regain mental clarity. Among the technicians, a faint optimism lingered. ‘They must feel like the vaccine is within reach.’ Though unspoken, they feared the unknown threat of infection. The mere mention of a vaccine had powerful psychological impact. Eli’s voice broke the thoughts. “…Do you think something happened to him?”“Do you mean Heinz?”“Yes.” She had noticed it, despite the difficulty of finding a connection. Her serious expression indicated some confidence. He chose honesty: “I don’t know.”  He didn’t know anything. But… “There seems to be a connection.”“Hmm…!” ‘They must have been quite close.’ She had never spoken of anyone outside of Gale before. “Anyway, a clue to a vaccine… If these are Baizen researchers, couldn’t they also develop a treatment?”“A treatment would be difficult.” Vaccines and treatments were fundamentally different. A treatment would need to reverse the infection—impossible once the brain starts to deteriorate. Vaccines only suppress or prevent infection. And they aren’t something that can be quickly made. The vaccine was one of the final technologies in this world. In the [Ending: Mission] route, assisting the director to make a vaccine required detailed knowledge of the minimum time—at least several months. And it couldn’t stop at the vaccine. [Ending: Mission] would still lead to the worst outcome. More terrifying entities awaited beyond infection. The vaccine was merely a support for an ideal ending. Yet now, a hopeful word was necessary. “The vaccine should be possible.”

‘Even if it takes time, the director will produce the vaccine.’

“That’s somewhat reassuring…” Their value went beyond vaccines—they could produce medicines, critical under chronic shortages. Even supporting only vaccine research could yield many medications. Painkillers alone would become precious. Aryan Patel, the slightly calmer elder, felt the attention of those around focus on him and the speaker. “Are you composed now?”“…Thanks, I feel clearer.”“I’m Kyle Han, commander of the ARK unit.”“ARK unit?” Aryan tilted his head, unfamiliar with the name. “It’s a newly formed special forces unit.”“So you were military!”“Yes, you could say that.” Aryan’s gaze deepened with favor. “Good… very good. Considering what you’ve been through…”“Now, may we talk?”“Just what I hoped for.”“It might feel like an interrogation, but I ask your understanding due to the circumstances.” Aryan seemed unconcerned. “No problem.” It was time for questions. “First, what exactly is the clue about the vaccine?”“Well… as I said, we found someone who maintained intelligence despite infection. If someone retains cognition despite advanced infection, their DNA must be special.” Aryan paused, taking a small chip from his pocket. “This chip converts that person’s blood into data.” Indeed, a substantial clue. Enough to raise expectations even higher. “But are you sure they were infected?” No guarantee. “In emergencies, judgment can blur.”“True, the situation was urgent, but it was no mistake.” He faced doubt with unwavering confidence. That presence unnervingly instilled a subtle anxiety. In Baizen Pharmaceuticals, such an occurrence wasn’t in the standard scenario. If true, it’s a [singularity]. Its origin: Vergo and the bodyguards entering the facility. Silence and contemplation ended together. One more question would clarify. “What did the person look like?”“Gray hair, scars across the face, especially near the eyes—a middle-aged man.”‘It’s really Vergo.’ The impression was identical. Confidence solidified. “Why are you sure they were infected?”“They lost reason and devoured their comrades. That could only happen if truly infected.” Eli quietly murmured in reaction. She brushed her face, leaving an awkward tension in the room. The news of a vaccine was hopeful, but with him and Eli serious, the atmosphere was delicate. He worried about something else—a nagging unease, fingers trembling slightly. ‘Vergo retained reason despite infection?’ Does this mean NH-03’s antidote worked? Or did he take it without receiving NH-03? What triggered it? Everything was shrouded in mystery. For now, he needed to focus on immediate problems. “Thank you for your cooperation.”“Done? Then let’s head to the surface. I will make the vaccine.”“No, we won’t go to the surface yet.”“Why?”“There’s no place suitable for research there. Better to move together.” He hesitated, weary from navigating the antcavel for so long. But when the next words came, his expression softened.“We’ll go to the [Baizen Cultured Meat Facility].”“…!?”

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